Buste van een man met tulband en baard 1616 - 1719

This etching by Rembrandt van Rijn depicts a man with a turban and beard. The turban, adorned with what seems to be a jewel, immediately evokes the Orient, a world of exoticism and otherness, which had a powerful hold on the European imagination. Turbans, historically worn across various cultures to signify nobility, piety, or simply social standing, are here imbued with a sense of the theatrical. Think of the elaborate headwear in Renaissance portraits, reimagined through Rembrandt’s distinctive lens. This is not merely a depiction of a man but a representation of cultural memory. Observe how the image reflects a cyclical progression. The motif of the turban has resurfaced, evolving and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts, and here, the symbol engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level.